Which condition is a common cause of acute kidney injury?

Dehydration is a common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) because it can lead to a significant decrease in blood volume and renal perfusion. When the body is dehydrated, there is insufficient fluid to maintain an adequate blood flow to the kidneys. This can result in ischemia, where the kidneys do not receive enough oxygen and nutrients, ultimately causing damage to renal tissue and impairing the kidneys' ability to filter waste and maintain fluid balance.

In cases of dehydration, various factors such as inadequate fluid intake, excessive fluid loss from vomiting or diarrhea, or conditions that increase fluid output can contribute to the severity of the renal impairment. Moreover, dehydration-induced AKI can be reversible if recognized and treated promptly by rehydrating the patient, thus restoring adequate blood flow to the kidneys.

Conditions like hepatitis, heart failure, and liver cirrhosis can impact kidney function but are not as direct in causing AKI as dehydration, which specifically reduces blood flow and increases kidney susceptibility to injury.